Counterfeit products
If you take or use counterfeit medicines or medical devices you are risking your health.
Counterfeit medicines or medical devices are imitation goods which are packaged to look like genuine items. Products are considered counterfeit if they are falsely manufactured, packaged or advertised.
The products have not been checked by the regulator, the TGA, and it is impossible to know for certain what you are using.
Risks
Using counterfeit medicines or medical devices carries a high risk of unexpected or potentially serious reactions.
Counterfeit medicines and medical devices are often deliberately packaged to look like the genuine article. However, our investigations have found these products may contain:
- the wrong active ingredient
- no active ingredient
- too much or too little active ingredient and variations across tablets and batches
- substances withdrawn from sale for safety reasons
- toxic or dangerous substances
- substandard components
While people buy counterfeit products because they are cheaper, they have wasted money on products that may not work or may be harmful.
If you have a serious medical condition, seek professional medical advice.